Rail-joint.



No. 683,70l.

. Patented Oct. I, I90l. .H. n. NEUBERT.

-RAIL JOINT. (Application filed. Mar. 15, 1901; (No Mofiel.)

m: Nonms PErsns ca. Mom-Luna. WASHINGTON. n. c.

UNITED STATES FFICE.

PATENT RAIL-JOINT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 683,701, dated October 1901- Application filed March 15,1901.

To a whmn it natty concern.-

Be it known that I, I-IERMANN R. N EUBERT, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rail-Joints, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in rail-joints, and has for its object to provide novel and effective means for connecting the rails together at the joints in such a manner that they may be quickly disconnected when desired and to dispense with the use of nuts on the securingbolts, thereby forming a joint which when once placed in position remains so until disconnected. I

Briefly described, the invention comprises a pair of fish-plates which are hinged together, so that one of the same may be swung outwardly. The other fish-plate is formed integral with a chair-plate, and when the two plates are in the closed position they are secured by means of bolts, which have slots or grooves to receive a key that is held in position between the bolts and an overhanging flange formed along thetop edge of one fishplate, all of which construction will be hereiuafter described and then particularly pointed out in the claims.

In describing the invention in detail reference is bad to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, wherein like numerals of reference indicate similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings, and in which Figure l is a side elevation of a part of a pair of rails, showing my improved joint in position. Fig. 2 is a reverse view of the same. Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a detail plan view of the locking-key partly broken away. Fig. 5 is a detail side elevation of one of the securing-bolts.

To put my invention into practice, I provide a chair-plate 1, which carries a fish-plate 2, adapted to embrace one side of the rails 3. Extending downwardly from the opposite edge of this plate 1 is a series of sleeves or eyes spaced apart and which receive between Serial No. 51,284. (No model.)

their ends a series of like sleeves or arms carried by the fish-plate 4, which engages the opposite side of the rails. These sleeves or eyes carried by the two fish-plates receive a pintle or bolt 5, thus forming a hinge between the fish-plate 4 and the chair-plate 1. The fish-plates are each provided with apertures which are adapted to register with the apertures in the webs of the rails and receive threadless bolts 6, having a head on one end, which heads engage the fish-plate 2. bolts are each provided on their upper'face near their ends with a notch or recess 7 to re ceive a locking-key 8, by means of which the bolts are fastened in position and the fishplates thereby bound to the rails. This locking-key is slightly wedge-shaped in form and is held between the lower wall of the groove 7 of the bolts and a projecting ledge 8, carried by the fish-plate 4 along its upper edge. This fish-plate 4 also has a projecting ledge 4, extending longitudinally of the fish-plate directly beneath the apertures which receive the securing-bolts. The smaller end of the locking-key 8 is provided with a keyway 9 to receive a securing-key 10 to prevent the longitudinal movement of the locking-key after the latter has been placed in position.

In operation the rails are placed in position on the chair-plate 1 and against the fish-plate 2 when the fish-plate 4 has been swung outwardly upon its hinge, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3 of the drawings, and this fish plate is then closed against the web of the rails, the bolts inserted with the grooves '7' uppermost, and the locking-key then inserted endwise into position between the bolts and These the ledge s, and when the key 10 is placed w es n position the parts are securely looked and held in the position in which they have been placed. The chair-plate and fish-plates are preferably made of a length that will fit neatly between two ties, as shown in the drawings, which will permit the removal of the joint when desired for repairing the track.

In the practice of the invention it will be observed that various changes may be made in the details of construction without departing from the general spirit of the invention.

Having fully described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-'- 1. In a rail-joint, the combination with the rails, of a chair-plate having an integral fishplate to embrace one side of the rails, and provided along its opposite edge With a series of eyes or sleeves, of a fish-plate having a series of eyes or sleeves to fit between those of the chair-plate, a pintle passing through said eyes or sleeves to secure the same together, said fish-plates and the web of the rails having registering apertures, bolts passed through said apertures, said bolts having grooves on one side near their free ends, and a locking-key engaging in said grooves to secure the bolts in position, substantially as described.

2. In a rail-joint, the combination with the rails, of a chair-plate having an integral fishplate to embrace one side of the rails, a separate fish-plate hinged to said chair-plate and adapted to embrace the opposite side of the rails, said fish-plates and the webs of the rails being apertured, threadless bolts passed passed through said fish-plates and the webs of the rails, said bolts having grooves on one side, and a locking-key engaging the grooves in the bolts to secure the same in position,

and bind the fish-plates to the rails, substan- I tially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

HERMANN R. NEUBERTa \Vitnesses:

JOHN NOLAND, E. E. POTTER. 

